Is your cleanser really as gentle as you think?

How To Know If A Cleanser Is Too Harsh

There’s a common misconception that your skin will look and feel its best only if it is squeaky clean. Many people try to accomplish this by vigorously cleansing their skin to the point where they are actually harming it more than helping it. This is because too much scrubbing or products with intensive chemical formulations can disrupt your skin’s barrier function. Also, even though you want to remove excess oil from your skin, your skin still needs some level of oil and moisture to function so avoid drying it out completely with cleanser. We’re giving you some additional tips on how to cleanse your face.

How to Cleanse More Gently

1. Use Lukewarm, Not Hot Water

Try to avoid washing your face with very hot water. This can be drying or irritating for your skin and can affect your skin’s barrier function. You should use lukewarm water to cleanse.

2. Massage Gently

Don’t think that excessive rubbing and scrubbing are what’s best for your skin. Using your fingertips to gently massage cleanser into your skin is more than enough. Focus on massaging your skin and lifting the dirt off your face when you cleanse. You can massage your skin for up to one minute to make sure that your makeup, sweat, oil and dirt particles are parting ways with your skin. Make sure to thoroughly rinse off your cleanser.

3. Use Gentle Cleansers

If you feel like your cleanser might be too harsh and you experience tightness and dryness after usage, you can switch to a gentler cleanser. This will help your skin get clean without irritation. Two cleansers that are compatible with a variety of skin types are micellar water and a lotion cleanser. They are easy to use and gentle in their composition.

1. Micellar Water

No matter what your skin type is micellar water can cleanse without drying. Micellar water is filled with oil-based particles called micelles which attract make up and impurities like a magnet and easily lift them off your face. To use micellar water, pour the liquid into two cotton balls, then gently press and glide the cotton balls across your face to cleanse. Foundation, eye make up and any excess oil should come off easily. Garnier SkinActive’s Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover and Cleanser is the perfect way to cleanse your face without vigorous rubbing. You can use it both in the morning and in the evening to deeply cleanse your skin without causing irritation. It’s also super portable, making it an easy product to bring to the gym or to travel with you.

2. Cleansing Milk

If your skin is more on the sensitive side or your skin often inexplicably breaks out you should look for a gentle cleanser that’s free of irritants such as alcohol or fragrance. You may be inadvertently causing irritation, dryness or flakiness on your skin by using products that are too harsh. Try using a cleanser with moisturizing components that will restore and refresh skin without drying it out. Garnier SkinActive’s Clean+ Makeup Removing Lotion Cleanser softens and cleanses your skin and is free of fragrance or alcohol. Apply a small amount of the lotion cleanser to a cotton ball or a cotton pad then gently wipe your face to remove any sweat, make up, or oil from your face. You will be able to fully cleanse your face without any harsh rubbing or formulas that can negatively affect your skin and its barrier function.